Dairy Queen in Richboro readies for a fresh start

🍦Franchise holder Parthkumar “Pete” Patel was arrested in March

🍦The rest of the staff quit due to his actions

🍦New franchise holders say they are preparing the location for a reopening

NORTHAMPTON, Pa. —Blizzards, Dilly bars and  Stackburgers may be returning soon to a location that's been closed for five months.

Parthkumar “Pete” Patel, the franchise holder of the Dairy Queen restaurant on Second Street Pike in the Richboro section of Northampton  was charged with corruption of minors and tampering with evidence in March by Northampton police following an incident with a female teenage employee.

The restaurant closed for business with signs on the door and in the drive-thru indicating that it was temporarily closed. The restaurant's appearance inside and out was kept up but remained closed for business. The rest of the staff quit following the incident, According to an online petition calling for Dairy Queen to take over the franchise.

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"Blizzard Wizzards and Smile Makers" wanted

Posters for months-old promotions have come down and a new sign went up on the door from the new owners who did not identify themselves.

"We are currently in the process of taking over and we are getting the restaurant ready to reopen. We will post an expected opening day soon!!!! We are very excited to serve you all of the delicious DQ treats!!!!" read the message.

A help wanted poster went up in the window seeking "Blizzard Wizzards and Smile Makers" with applicants invited to apply inside.

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 Disappearing video

According to Northampton police Patel asked the female teenage employee to come to his office to discuss an "employment issue." He told her to have a seat and gave her some forms to fill out. As she worked on the forms, police said Patel began massaging her shoulders and then placed his hand down her shirt and onto her upper breast area, according to police.

During the investigation, Patel told detectives the footage from the office visit had "disappeared" from the DVR/recorder.

Police were able to forensically analyze the video and recover the missing footage. They said it showed Patel's actions as the teen had described.

Court records show Patel will formally arraigned on Aug. 22 in the Court of Common Please of Bucks County.  A pre-trial conference is scheduled for Oct. 14.

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